Farming back then was a community effort, and working hard was a way of life. My family cultivated the soil using largely antiquated equipment and existed with no modern conveniences in the home. The days were long, but the results were rewarding as we eked out a living for ourselves. The really wonderful aspect of it was that although we had very little, I never felt we were poor, and I never went to bed hungry.

Straight Rows tells the story of my early days, from life as a boy in a one-room schoolhouse until I graduated from high school and went on to college. The experiences described in this book have defined who I am today. The lessons of the land were many and remain with me still.